US jury convicts Hong Kong woman for operation in which 10 Chinese IIs died
A Hong Kong woman known as the 'mother of all snakeheads' has been convicted in a US court of financing a people-smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 10 Chinese illegal immigrants off the coast of New York in 1993.
Cheng Chui-ping, or 'Big Sister Ping', was convicted on Wednesday on federal conspiracy charges for financing the Golden Venture steamer, which was carrying almost 300 Chinese when it ran aground off Queens. Ten died while trying to swim 180 metres to shore.
The US District Court of Manhattan jury also found Cheng, 56, guilty of money laundering and trafficking in the proceeds of ransom.
The jury deliberated for five days before finding her not guilty of a separate money-laundering charge, but failed to return a verdict on a charge of taking hostages. Judge Michael Mukasey ordered the jury to continue deliberating on that charge.
Cheng faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.
She fought against extradition from Hong Kong to the United States for three years after her June 2000 arrest by Narcotics Bureau officers at Chek Lap Kok airport. She was extradited to the US in June 2003.